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When the Indigo Girls sing, “It took a long time to, become the thing I am to you” clearly they aren’t talking about studying to become an IBCLC, but it certainly applies. As parents go through their own breastfeeding journeys some realize they want to help other people as well. They often start out in Peer-to-peer support, such a vital resource for new families, and soon begin to think about increasing their knowledge and expertise by becoming an IBCLC. Since I did not start out as an RN, nor in a peer support organization, I often have inquiries from people who are interested in chatting with me about the process. Just in the past few months, several women have contacted me to chat so I thought it was the perfect time to write about the process of becoming an IBCLC for someone who is not an RN.

​The IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant) title is conferred by IBLCE (the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners).

There are many blogs out there describing the various pathways to certification and, as always, it’s important to become completely familiar with the information provided by IBLCE. I’m going to focus on Pathway 3: Mentorship, as that is the route I took to certification. When people reach out to me for information, it is not so much for the facts and details, but rather the experience, the personal take on the journey.​The three criteria IBLCE lists are Health Sciences Education, Lactation Specific Education, and Lactation Specific Clinical Experience. Since the IBCLC exam is the last step, I will add that as the fourth component.

​Health Sciences Education - You will need to determine which courses you are missing based on your own college education. Eight of the courses must be for college credit; the other six may be continuing education.

​​​Thankfully I only needed to take two of the college courses: Human Biology and Nutrition. You can take them at any accredited higher institution, including community college, a local university, or through an online course. I found it easiest to take courses online since I was still working full-time. If you are looking to save money, I do recommend looking into your local community college; they are often less expensive than other colleges and universities.

The continuing education courses may also be taken at a college or university, but you can usually find them online for a better rate. I took mine from Health e-Learning, Lactation Education Resources, and a local CPR course provider. I am not endorsing any particular organization; there are other sources out there as well.

*Tip* Start gathering your transcripts early to ensure you have proof of all courses to fulfill the education requirement.

Lactation Specific Education - All IBCLC candidates, regardless of which Pathway they choose, are required to take at least 90 hours in lactation and breastfeeding education. IBLCE does not recommend specific courses, nor do they approve them in any way. It is your responsibility to be sure the course you take meets the requirements as outlined in the IBLCE Detailed Content Outline.

There are many courses available to you, in-person, online, or as a hybrid. Since I was not coming from a healthcare background, I wanted to have some in-person learning. I chose to go through Breastfeeding Outlook, which provided a hybrid version of the course. I liked that I could go at my own pace for the online seminars and then have a chance to ask questions in person. I asked a lot of questions! This particular course was originally designed for RNs already in the field and there were times that was clear to me, as they spoke in “nurse” language, which is why I needed to ask more questions than anticipated. I believe they received that feedback from other students as well and I’ve heard the course has shifted and it is more accessible to non-RNs now.

Lactation Specific Clinical Experience - Here’s the big one, guys - 500 hours of directly supervised clinical practice. This is the step that is most difficult for those not already working in L&D or as a peer counselor. Where can I get my hours? How will I get them while working full time? Do I need to leave my job? Can I do them part-time? How can my family afford it?

You can find your own mentor (and compensate that person(s) appropriately), or you can go through an organization that sets up mentorships for you, again for compensation. I bring up the compensation right away because many people go into this step thinking they can just find another IBCLC and work with them for free. Having a mentee takes extra time and commitment. If you find your own mentor, expect to create a contract, sign confidentiality agreements, and compensate that person.

I signed up with Lactation Education Resources for their 500-hour Clinical Internship Program. They took me through the steps of having my Pathway 3 plan approved, set up my clinical sites, worked with me to ensure I was gaining experience in a variety of lactation scenarios, and provided additional learning modules. I paid the fee to them and they compensated my mentors as appropriate. They were able to place me in clinical sites I would not have otherwise had access to, which included hospital-based, group private practice, and solo private practice. I believe I received a more thorough clinical education than I would have found on my own.

There are other companies that provide internship placements, so look for one in your area if that is the path you want to take.

​IBCLC Exam​It’s finally time for that final step to which you’ve been working! The IBCLC exam tests your knowledge in the Clinical Competencies set forth in the Detailed Content Outline.

They used to offer the exam once a year, in July. They now offer it twice a year, in April and October. I took the exam in April, so I needed to have my clinical hours completed by mid-November, the deadline for applying for the April exam. All dates are available on the IBLCE site.

There are a variety of practice test books as well as online tests. I highly recommend taking practice tests from at least two different providers. Linda Smith’s review book, Comprehensive Lactation Consultant Exam Review is highly regarded. I also took practice exams through Lactation Education Resources, Breastfeeding Outlook, and the online portion of the Breastfeeding and Human Lactation textbook. They were all different and helped me see where I needed to study and which areas were my strongest.

One week before the exam I stopped studying. I had taken my courses, completed my hours, and spent many months studying. I knew I needed to give my brain a chance to rest before the big exam.

I was nervous the day of the exam, but I also knew I had worked hard to get there and done everything I could to succeed. I didn’t want to say it at the time for fear of jinxing myself, but when I left the test, I felt good. There was nothing on the test that completely threw me for a loop. Yes, there were questions for which I couldn’t decide between two answers, or I wasn’t sure exactly what they were trying to get to, but it was all within expectations. I knew I got questions wrong, but I also felt I did well enough to pass. And then the waiting game...the test is in April, but the results do not come out until mid- to late-June (October to December for the other test window).

Well we know I passed, or I wouldn’t be writing this and working as an IBCLC! Even with my relative confidence that I passed, the wait was not easy. When my results finally came in the mail on June 17, I fell to the ground and cried. I’m not kidding! I felt so much relief after all the work I did, the chances I took, and the financial struggle I created for my family. I was an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant!

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I’ll save the steps of setting up a private practice for another post. That has its own pitfalls and triumphs!

Hopefully I’ve given you some insight into the process of becoming an IBCLC through Pathway 3. Get to know the Pathway 3 Plan Guide well. Know all your requirements for education, for clinicals, for having your plan approved (you have to submit it to IBLCE), and all your dates. Don’t forget to keep track of all your education along the way in case you are audited. None of the steps are hidden, but you are responsible for keeping on top of all dates and requirements.​If you are thinking about becoming an IBCLC, what is your biggest concern?